Builders layout tape



Jan- 22 1957 G.'D. MANvxLLr-z BUILDERS LAYOUT TAPE,

Filed June 22. 1954 United States Patent() This invention concerns the construction and building art, in particular, and is a novel layout tape and reel unit for architects, engineers, contractors, builders and others.

It is an object of the invention to provide a double-face tape having on one side the usual foot-unit of measure and on the other face a special, 16" stud center layout index.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simple, practical, reliable, substantial and quickly set means in the form of a double-plate hook device whereby to imp-ale the free end of the tape on a convenient basal structure with the obverse, foot-measure upward as for a layout of measure on a rough tloor, or with the 16" stud-pitch index upward, as for marking ot on a tloor plate for location of studding.

Another object is to provide a quick adjusting clamp device on the tape which can be set tightly on the tape at any desired measure point from the hooked end of the tape and which is adapted to be temporarily nailed in place, on a flooring or plate, to hold the run-ott tape without man aid.

A feature 0f the invention is that the hooking device attords use as a compass-center anchor and the said clamp will receive a pointed tool, pencil or nail, to scribe a mark around the center-forming hook device, for compass work.

The invention resides in certain advancements in this art as 'set forth in the ensuing disclosure and has, with the above, additional objects and advantages as hereinafter developed, and whose constructions, combinations and sub-combinations," and detail of means and manner of operation will be made manifest in the following description of the herewith illustrative embodiment; it being understood that modifications, variations, adaptations and equivalents may be resorted to within the scope, spirit vand principles of the invention as it is claimed in conclusion hereof.

Figure 1 is a plan view of the foot-measure (obverse) face of the partly extended tape, and its case. Figure 2 is an edge elevation of the tape of Fig. 1, as anchored to a rough flooring and nailed under tension. Figure 3 is a plan view of a fragment of the reverse face of the tape to show a 16", stud-place index digit. Figure 4 is a detail plan view showing the two hook plates collapsed to form a compass center anchor. Figure 5 4is an enlarged scale view of one of the hook plates. Figure 6 is a detail of the yielding bed of the clamp slide. Figure 7 is a side view showing how the clamp slide retracts into the mouth of the tape case.

A conventional reel case 2 has a rim mouth 2m from which can be drawn a steel tape which is here distinguished as having an obverse face with the usual foot-indicia F, divided into inch and fractions, and also having on the reverse face stud-pitch indicia in the form of numeral 16, space at 16-inch intervals from the 1", free end of the tape. At the numeral 16 are top and bottom center indicating marks 4. Currently wall stud-s are made with a thickness of one and five-eighths inches. Accordingly f tape when not in use.

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there are provided on each 'side of the numeral 16l check-olf marks 5 equally spaced from the center marks 4. When marking olf a rough iloor plate P for placing studding the mechanic lays out the tape (anchored at the inch-end) with the stud pitch indicia (16) upward and he then walks in either direction along the tape and stripes oi a straight check mark C and makes an X mark below the edge of the tape and near the check mark C. By now stand-ing a stud on the X mark and with one edge close to the check mark C he has the exact location for nailing of the stud. A mechanic walking to the right hand uses the left check-ofi:` mark 5 for his check mark C and a mechanic walking from the right hand length of tape uses the righthand side check mark 5.

To facilitate using the tape with either face upward the free end of the tape is provided with a dual hook means. This includes a bail link having a pivot bar 10 pivoted at 11 in the tape end and having side arms 10a connected by a cross bar 10c. This link can be folded back over the The hook structure here includes a pair of duplicate, relatively inverted stift metal plates 12 and 13, and the description of one will suice.

Each plate has at one end a bearing hub 14 to tit and swing on the cross bar 10c and one end of the hub is split and bent out to form a top lug 14' which will engage an 'arm of the bail link, Fig. 2, when the plate is Iswung out for hook use.

Each plate has a straight inner edge which is provided with a sharp, inturned barb 15 adapted to be impaled as in Fig. 2 to safely hold the tape end anchored, as to ooring or plate beam P.

Also, each plate (l2-13) has very close to the center of its hub 14, Fig. 5, and in the inner edge of the plate a semicircul'arnotch 16 so that when the two plates are folded into place over the bail link these notches make a circular hole for a compass-center nail N, Fig. 4.

After a length of the tape has been anchored and laid out it can be securely, temporarily tacked or nailed down,

Fig. 2. This is made possible by provision of a slide 17 having a yieldable, inturned bed 17b on which rests the tape as it passes below an eccentric 18e of a clamp lever 18 mounted on a pivot 19 in side wings of the slide. A special feature of the invention resides in providing a transverse Window 18w in the outer end of the lever. The end of the lever extends beyond the side edges 'of the tape and is provided with circular holes 18h which intersect the window. The layout man can read the footmeasure showing at the window, or by inserting either a nail or a marker in either of the holes 18h can sweep the tape on its compass center for making circles of given radius.

When the tape is wound into the case 2 the released clamp slide will tumble partly into the mouth of the case, assisted by the tape end bail hitch.

The word stud as used herein is intended to include rafters, joists and other structural timbers or elements.

What is claimed is:

1. A builders layout tape having measuring indicia on the obverse and reverse faces thereof, and means for anchoring the unreel-ed end of the tape with either face up for use, said means consisting of 'a pair of hook plates arranged edge to edge, and a tape end pivot device on which said hook plates are pivoted and have an outward, opposite quarter turn, as to a respective face of the tape, and each hook plate having on its inner edge a ninety degree impaling barb, the inner edges of said hook plates having directly opposite, semicircular notches near their hubs which cooperate to form a compass-center nail hole for the tape.

2. A builders layout tape having measuring indicia thereon and a binding spring clip slidable along the tape, and including a slide with a yielding tape bed land a lever pivoted on the slide and having a clamping hub to bind the interposed tape onto said bed at vany desired location along the tape, said lever ilaving ya window to disclose 's id' measuring indicia'.

3. A bande-rs layout tape and a binding 'e1-ip sliiiaee 'along the tape, and including a' `slide ivith a .yielding .tape na and a lever pivotea'n 'tnesiide and having etant-ping hub to bind the interposed tapenfd said' bed at any desired location alng the tape, said lever having a window extending beyond 'the sides of the ltape for reception of a holding nail 'on either `side of .the tape, or a pencil for compass use.

2 1. A builders layo'ut tape ha"`ng afr'ee end, one side of lsaid 'tape having measuring indicia thereon, anchoring means on said free end eomp'ising a 'pair ofhook plates arranged edge to edge, a pivot device on said y'free end on which said hook plates are pivoted in the plane of said tap to provide an outward opposite 'qarter titi-n of said hook plates with respect 'to the piane of the tape, means for limiting the rotation of sa'dipl'ates t-o said quai-ter turns, each of said hook plates' 'having on its inner-edge a ninety degree barb, whereby said free end can be hooked to an eitternal member with the indicia ofv s'aid tape facing in either opposite direction.

5. A builders layout -tap'e having a free' end, one side 'of said tape having measuring .indici-a thereon, anchoring nieans on said fre'e 'end comprising a pair 'of h'ook plates arranged edge to edge, a pivot device on said free end on which said hook plates are pivted in the plane of said tape to provide an outward opposite quarter turn of said hook plates with respect to -theplane of lthe tape, means for limiting the 'rotation of 'said plates to said quarter turns, each of lsaid hook plates having on its inner edge a ninety degree barb, whereby said free end can be hooked to' an external member with the indicia of said tape facing in either opposite direction, the inner edges of said hook plates having directly opposite, semicircular notches therein kwhich when said plates are folded in the plane of said tape cooperate to provide a compas'sLcenter member hole for said tape. A i Y 6. An end asse'bly' for a bilde'rs iayttape 'compri'sing a tap-e end piiot 'device rtlid 'to free end of 'said tape and eittending 'at angles to the edges of said tape and in 'the plane Vof s'id tape, a pair of plates 4 .arranged edge to edge on .said pivot device` to have an outward opposite quarter turn, means for limiting the rotation of said plates to said quarter turns, said plates being foldable to be substantially inthe plane of said tape.

7. An -end assembly for a builders layout tape comprising a tape end pivot device attached to a free end of said tape and extending Aaft-,right angles to the edges of said tape and in the plane of said tape, a pair ofplates arranged edge t edge 'on said pivot device to have an outward opposite lquarter turn, means for limiting the rotation oi said plat's to said durartr t'rns, said plates being foldable to -be substantially in the piane of said tape, the inner edges of said plates having directly opposite notches cooperating when s`a`d plates' are iii edge to edge relation to form a compass-center tool receiving hole for said tape.

8. An end assembly for a builders layout tape comprising a tape end pivot device attached to a free end of said tape and extending at right angles to the edges of said tape and in the-plane of said tape, a pair of plates arranged edge t'o edge on said pivot device to have an` outward opposite quarter turn, means for limiting the rotation of said plates `to said quarter turn, said plates being foldable to be substantially in the plane of said tape, the inner edges of said plates having directly opposite notches cooperating when said plates are in edge to edge relation to form a compass-center tool receiving hole for said tape, a clamp -slide slidable along said tape, means for locking said slide to saidftape at will, said slide having a marking tool receiving hole therein at one side of said tape.

kieferences Cited in the fiile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 69,535.18 Beckley Mar. 1S, 1902 1,143,305 l'ritz July 27, 1915 1,567,602 Keuliel Dec. 29, 1925 1,8Yf635 Thompson May 3l, V1932 1,988,095 Sto'ckr'nan lan. l5, 1935 2,187,087 Leary Jan. 16, 1940 2,563,674 Coots Aug. 7, 1951 2,552,405' Auchard Jan. l5, 1952 2,627,117 Kragness Feb. 3, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 229,107 Great Britain Feb. 19, 1925 

